life-form
noun
ˈlīf-ˈfȯrm 
-ˌfȯrm
: the body form that characterizes a kind of organism (such as a species) at maturity
also
: a kind of organism
Examples of life-form in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
How scientists define a species When scientists talk about biodiversity – the variety of life-forms found in nature – species are the basic building blocks.
—
Elay Shech, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
On top of this, many sea cucumbers host dozens of life-forms in and on their bodies—including the cloaca-inhabiting pearlfish.
—Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 15 May 2025
Their organizations will need to become, in effect, a new organizational life-form.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
For the life-forms uncovered in Bellingshausen Sea, the dramatic loss of their former iceberg ceiling may rock their ecosystem.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
Scientists urged the abandonment of attempts to create mirror life, against which existing life-forms may possess no defenses.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
This is useful in highlighting the theme of mortality, both on the personal and geological scales, directing you to think less about the value of a life than of life-forms.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025
In Mason’s view, humans, as the only species known to have an awareness of extinction, have a unique moral obligation to preserve other life-forms from dangers such as asteroid strikes, nuclear war, or climate catastrophes.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Microbes are found throughout our planet’s biosphere because many of them are able to flourish under very harsh conditions that apparently preclude larger, more complex life-forms.
—Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2025
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Elay Shech, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
On top of this, many sea cucumbers host dozens of life-forms in and on their bodies—including the cloaca-inhabiting pearlfish.
—Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 15 May 2025
Their organizations will need to become, in effect, a new organizational life-form.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
For the life-forms uncovered in Bellingshausen Sea, the dramatic loss of their former iceberg ceiling may rock their ecosystem.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
Scientists urged the abandonment of attempts to create mirror life, against which existing life-forms may possess no defenses.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
This is useful in highlighting the theme of mortality, both on the personal and geological scales, directing you to think less about the value of a life than of life-forms.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025
In Mason’s view, humans, as the only species known to have an awareness of extinction, have a unique moral obligation to preserve other life-forms from dangers such as asteroid strikes, nuclear war, or climate catastrophes.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Microbes are found throughout our planet’s biosphere because many of them are able to flourish under very harsh conditions that apparently preclude larger, more complex life-forms.
—Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Life-form.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-form. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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